Button panel key



May 12, 1953 P. G. LEWIS BUTTON PANEL KEY- Filed lay 24, 1950 Znwentor Pc zul GLewis M (IttorQg Patented May 12, 1953 BUTTON PANEL KEY Paul G. Lewis, Tonawanda, N. Y., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 24, 1950, Serial No. 164,018

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a key for controlling a pair of buttons on a control panel.

The invention provides an elongated strip member formed to provide button engaging means at opposite ends on one side and. having the upper side formed to receive an index slip for indexing opposite ends of the strip member with a cover of suitable transparent material to cooperate in forming a pocket in the upper portion of the key at opposite ends to protect the index slip and at the same time provide a finger piece that may be manually engaged in operating the ends of the keys to operate the buttons controlled thereby.

The invention is particularly adapted to providing a button panel key for the control panel of the invention shown in the application file-d on even date herewith for Power Operated Visible Index by Frederick M. Zenner and Carl F. Wolters, Serial No. 163,964.

The button panel key of the invention has a transparent finger piece closing a channel on the upper side of a strip member forming the body of the key to provide a label receiving recess for indexing the key to indicate what it controls while the opposite side of the strip member has opposite ends formed with complementary means in the form of bifurcated feet for engaging a pair of buttons that support the key and receive fianges on the buttons in the bifurcations of the feet. The finger piece may be secured on the strip member by engagement in recessed portions at opposite sides of the label receiving channel or by other equivalent means.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the button panel key with portions broken away and shown in crosssection for illustrating details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with portions broken away and shown in cross-section to illustrate details of construction.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the key shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The button panel key shown in Figs. 1 to 3 has an elongated strip member 1 formed with a longitudinally extending channel} in the upper face and extending from end to end thereof to provide a label receiving recess for an index label 3. Strip member I is formed with recesses 4 at opposite sides of channel 2 to provide shoulders for receiving and supporting cover strip 5 formed of transparent material. Cover strip 5 extends from end to end of strip member I, bridges over channel 2 to close the same except for the openings at opposite ends and also forms a finger strip for engagement in manual operation to press the key. Any suitable means may be used to secure cover strip 5 in the recesses 4 so that the cover strip is firmly attached to strip member I.

Index strip 3 may be provided with suitable indicia at opposite ends, not shown, that will. be visible through transparent cover member 5 to index both ends of the key independently of each other. The key forms a dual control member in which each end individually controls a different operation from the other end.

Strip member I has side flanges 6, intermediate transverse walls 7 connecting side walls or flanges 6 and end walls 8 connected at the sides to side Walls 6. The free ends of end Walls 8 are each formed with a foot 9 extending outwardly in offset substantially parallel relation to strip member I from opposite ends of the key. Each foot has a center bifurcation or slot indicated at I0 extending into the adjacent portion of end walls 8. This adapts the key to receive the flanges on buttons at opposite ends of the key so that the key may be supported by a pair of control buttons of the type shown in the copending application above mentioned.

The button panel key as herein disclosed may be formed of suitable molded plastic or other similar material.

The invention claimed is:

1. A button panel key comprising an elongated strip member having a longitudinal channel in the upper face extending throughout the length thereof, a transparent finger strip mounted on the upper face of said strip member over said channel and extending from end to end thereof, side and end flanges extending from the opposite marginal portions of said strip member and feet mounted on and extending outwardly from the free ends of said end flanges and formed with a longitudinally extending slot for receiving button flanges.

2. A button panel key according to claim 3, the feet extending outwardly from the lower terminals of said end walls being disposed in substantially parallel offset relation to said strip member, and said feet arranged to receive key buttons pivotally therein whereby said key buttons may be actuated independently or jointly by said panel key.

3. A button panel key comprising a strip member having a longitudinally extending channel formed in the upper face thereof, side and end walls dependant from said strip member, transverse walls intermediate said side walls, said end walls formed to provide bifurcated feet at the base thereof, said feet being disposed in substantial parallel offset relation with said strip, said feet having said bifurcations arranged to receive key buttons therein and said strip member arranged to pivot on said key buttons whereby said key buttons may be actuated independently or jointly by said panel key.

PAUL G. LEWIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,822,213 Hamilton Sept. 8, 1931 2,111,686 Warren Mar. 22, 1938 2,189,066 Helmond Feb. 6, 1940 

